Elastic smocking



Jan. 3, 1939. J. L. SELINGER ELASTIC SHOCKING Filed March 8, 1937 INVENTOR Josnvu L. Sumclfl. B W ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 3, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFICE 'lClaim.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in smocking material and has more particular reference to elastic smocking.

The invention has for an object the construction of smocking material which is characterized by cloth material having on one side a. plurality of gathered adjacent portions in adjacent lines with the ends of the gathered portions of adjacent lines straddling each other, and an arrangement for resiliently maintaining the gathered portions in formation.

Still further the invention proposes the provision of a plurality of parallel lines of elastic cords on the other side of said cloth material and secured thereon with lines of zigzag stitches for resiliently maintaining said gathered effect.

Still further the invention contemplates a method by which the elastic smocking may be readily constructed.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a piece of elastic smocking constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating the material in fully stretched position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the material in fully stretched position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 5 but illustrating a modification.

The elastic smocking, according to this inven-- tion, comprises cloth material It having on one side I a plurality of gathered adjacent portions II arranged in adjacent lines with the ends of the gathered portions of adjacent lines straddling each other. Parallel lines of elastic cords l2 are secured on the other side 10 of the cloth material It by zigzag stitches I3. These elastic cords resiliently maintain the gathered effect.

Fig. 4 illustrates the cloth material as viewed in Fig. 1 stretched laterally. When thus stretched the gathered portions i! will be flattened out and the cloth material It will be fiat. The only effect now viewable will be the zigzag stitches l3. The dot and dash ilnes ll schematically indicate the portions of the sheet material which will be gathered when the cloth is released. Fig. 2 shows the rear view of the gathered material.

It should be noted that the lines of elastic cords II are arranged in groups. Each group extends across the full width of the zigzag stitches l3. These groups are spaced and it is the material between the spaced groups that will be gathered. I The gathering Ii will be produced by the material between opposed apexes of adjacent gnjigeslof zigzag stitches as clearlyindicated in The rear view shown in Fig. 5 represents merely a flat sheet of material 10 upon which there are parallel lines of elastic cords 12 held by zigzag stitches II.

In Fig. 6 a modification of the invention has been disclosed in which scallop shaped'zigzag stitches I3 are used to hold down the parallel groups of cords l2 upon the sheet material It. The dot and dash lines ll" schematically indicate the portions of the material I0 which will become gathered when the cloth material it is released.

The method of manufacturing the elastic smocking consists in stretching parallel lines of elastics i2 across one side of cloth material and then sewing the elastics on the cloth material with parallel lines of zigzag stitches. When the cloth material and elastics are released the elastics will contract the cloth material and form the gathered portions. The gathered portions must come out on the front side of the material since the elastics tend to assume straight line positions and so force out the gathering on the front side.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the previse constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming withingthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United" States Letters Patent is:

Elastic smooking material formed of cloth material and a plurality of spaced, substantially parallel series of elastic cords continuously secured thereto by zigzag seams of relatively tight stitching, a plurality of stitches in each of the legs of said seams, said elastic cords being secured to said cloth while said cords are in a stretched condition whereby to form gatherings in said material when said cords assume a normally relaxed condition, said cords being separated one from another by said stitches, the legs of said seams defining the ends of said gatherings.

JOSEPH L. SELINGER. 

